PROVO, Utah — Jake Retzlaff ran for 2 touchdowns and threw for 167 yards to steer No. 19 BYU to a 30-18 victory over Houston on Saturday evening.

LJ Martin added 87 yards on a season-high 22 carries and Chase Roberts had three catches for 76 yards. BYU (10-2, 7-2 Massive 12, No. 19 CFP) pressured 4 turnovers, together with two late within the fourth quarter, and snapped a two-game shedding streak.

Regardless of the victory, BYU will not play within the convention championship recreation. Iowa State and Arizona State will meet within the Massive 12 Championship Sport on Saturday.

“We have been near being in a convention championship recreation,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake stated. “The blokes are thirsty for it and so they’re hungry for it. … We have got some targets I feel we are able to obtain. We’re so shut now.”

The Cougars are possible headed to a bowl recreation subsequent after a successful season for the third time in within the final 5 years. It is a important milestone for a workforce that received 5 video games and didn’t qualify for a bowl a season in the past.

“That is my first bowl recreation, so I am simply actually excited for it,” Martin stated. “It simply feels good to win. You by no means need to be on the shedding facet.”

Zeon Chriss threw for 156 yards and ran for 2 touchdowns to steer Houston (4-8, 3-6) which completed the season with three straight losses.

“I believed we performed extraordinarily arduous,” Houston coach Willie Fritz stated. “If you play the No. 19 workforce within the nation at their place, you bought to play sensible the entire recreation and we did not do this the entire time.”

Houston scored its first offensive landing in three video games when Chriss scored on a 3-yard keeper late within the first quarter. BYU answered when Talan Alfrey snagged a subsequent onside kick and raced 58 yards untouched to even the rating.

BYU took a 14-10 lead halfway by means of the second quarter when Sione Moa went off deal with and scored on a 6-yard run. Retzlaff threw a 52-yard go to Roberts after which scored on a 13-yard QB keeper a play later to increase the Cougars’ result in 21-10 with 9 seconds left earlier than halftime.

Chriss narrowed the deficit to 24-18 on a 1-yard keeper with 8:34 left. Houston had a shot at a go-ahead rating after forcing a three-and-out, however Jack Kelly stripped the ball from Chriss on a fourth down sack. Blake Mangelson recovered the ball on the Houston 18.

Retzlaff scored on a 7-yard run with 2:52 left to seal the win.

“We have been capable of lock in a bit extra and execute what was known as,” defensive finish Logan Lutui stated.

Houston cornerback AJ Haulcy and BYU receiver Darius Lassiter have been each ejected following an finish zone scuffle that occurred after Retzlaff’s second landing run.

Takeaways

Houston: A promising begin on offense rapidly fizzled over the ultimate three quarters. Houston pressured three turnovers however couldn’t transfer the chains or handle the ball effectively sufficient to noticeably threaten BYU.

BYU: For the primary time this season, BYU misplaced three fumbles in a recreation. The uncharacteristic string of turnovers, coupled with quite a few dropped passes, saved the Cougars from pulling away from Houston till late.

Trickery backfires

Houston put itself in an early bind after a pair of trick performs backfired.

BYU’s opening drive led to a fumble when Martin and Keelan Marion collided on a handoff and the ball popped up and got here down within the arms of Carlos Allen. The junior nostril guard rumbled 57 yards right down to the BYU 14. Houston instantly turned the ball again over to BYU when Tyler Batty picked off a go from receiver Joseph Manjack IV.

“When we now have alternatives to attain, we obtained to attain and benefit from it and we did not do this,” Fritz stated.

Houston later opted to attempt an onside kick following Chriss’ first TD run. The ball went straight to Alfrey and he raced the opposite manner for BYU’s first landing. It provided a second of redemption to Alfrey who had the ball bounce off his leg on an onside kick in opposition to Arizona State every week earlier, resulting in a restoration by the Solar Devils.

“It simply is smart he could be the one to get the ball and take it the opposite manner for a landing,” Sitake stated. “I like the very fact these guys will work arduous and so they’ll attempt to discover methods to get higher. There’s by no means been an absence of effort.”

Ballot implications

BYU will possible transfer up a spot or two within the upcoming AP High 25 Ballot.

Up subsequent

Houston’s season is over.

BYU will wait to study its bowl recreation vacation spot.